Turkey Should Adjust Not Only Parliament But Also Turkish Society To E.U. Criteria

MADRID - Former Foreign Minister and Parliamentary Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis, Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliament Commission Co-chairman Aydin Dumanoglu and Republican People`s Party (CHP) deputy Onur Oymen, who are currently in Spanish capital Madrid to hold meetings, met on Tuesday with EU Joint Parliamentary Co-Chairman Josep Borrel Fontelles and Spanish Foreign Ministry Secretary General for European Relations Roman De Miguel.

Spanish officials gave a message that Turkey should adjust not only parliament but also Turkish society to EU criteria in the meeting.

Following meetings, Yakis and Oymen told the A.A correspondent that Spanish officials said that Spain was not against Turkey`s membership to the EU with religious and cultural facts and stated that Spain supported Turkish society and it believed that Turkey would be a benefit for the Union.

Yakis and Oymen quoted Spanish officials as saying that they welcomed steps which were taken by Turkey and stated that but it was not enough only to take those steps. Yakis and Oymen said that Spanish officials said that they expected Turkish society to be included in a real change and adopt European norms.

(EÖ-BRC) 15.10.2003